LDC Top 50 2024
Younis Chaudhry
CEO
Regal Food Products Group
From a standing start in 2009, Younis Chaudhry overcame enormous challenges to build a £40m-turnover food empire. “I ticked every box in the problem book,” he says. “Banks weren’t lending, suppliers didn’t want to work with us. I worked non-stop for three years to get the business going.”
Regal Food Products Group now supplies everything from cakes to confectionery to retailers like Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s and generates 10% of revenues from export. The key to his success? Strong relationships with suppliers and retailers. “Even when times are tough, we have been positive partners,” he says. “While other people panic, I am calm.”
I started this brand from scratch and now we compete with some of the biggest names in the business.”
Q&A
How have you grown the business?
The bakery business was doing well but I also moved into world foods, which is a growth sector. Since 2022, we have bought five businesses, so we are growing both organically and through acquisitions. But the main reason for growth is our relationships with suppliers and retailers, as well as pulling focus on new product development.
Why did you create Regal?
I used to work for a big bakery business as a sales director. Me and my business partner at the time started Regal in 2001. In 2009 I fully took over the business as CEO, where I started from scratch. I’m both ambitious and opportunistic – and now we sit in the top 20 UK cake brands.
Where does your entrepreneurial spirit come from?
I always wanted to make something of myself, and do something big with my life. It was always in me, even as a child. I have learned business the hard way. A lot of people wrote me off in the beginning, which has made me even more determined and grateful to my creator. Today, the best bit of my job is our charitable giving. We increase the amount we donate every year and even have our own food bank, supporting the local community.
Tell me about your people strategy?
We treat our people the way we like to be treated. I am very approachable. You don’t have to make an appointment with my PA, you can just come and speak to me. I regularly spend time on the shop floor, talking to people in packing, mixing, distribution – all across the business. I have created a family business to be very proud of.
